Acts 4:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

NIV: Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

NASB: For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

CSB: "For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

NLT: In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.

KJV: For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

NKJV: “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

After the Jewish ruling council arrests and releases Peter and John, the two apostles join the other church leaders in applying Psalm 2 to their situation. The nations strive against God's rule, the people try to escape God's authority to no avail, the kings assume power, and the rulers scheme—all in an attempt to break free of God's sovereignty over their lives (cf. Psalm 2:3).

Jesus' crucifixion fits this psalm perfectly. Antipas was a Tetrarch—a vassal leader of a fourth of a kingdom—who assumed the position of king or "Herod" (Luke 23:6–12). The "ruler" Pilate took council with Antipas (Luke 23:6–7, 12), the Jewish leaders (Luke 23:13–16), his wife (Matthew 27:19), and even Jesus (John 18:33–38) in an attempt to maintain control of the situation. The raging nations—called "Gentiles" in Acts—are the Roman guards who beat Jesus so viciously (John 19:1–5). The peoples of Israel are both the Sanhedrin, who machinated Jesus' execution, and the crowd whom the Sanhedrin manipulated into supporting their goal (Matthew 27:15–23).

"This city" is Jerusalem where the leadership of the church has been since Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:12). Isaiah describes Jesus as God's servant (Isaiah 42:1–4; 52:13—53:12) while Paul gives more information in Philippians 2:1–11. He says that although Jesus is God and equal to God, He submitted Himself to God's plan and "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7).

Acts 4:23–31 finds the Jesus-followers praying for boldness in the face of persecution. Jesus promised them they would see serious persecution (Matthew 10:16–25), but this is the first time they've experienced it directly. Peter and John already told the Sanhedrin they will follow God, not their earthly commands (Acts 4:19–20). They now return to the other Jesus-followers to let them know what's coming. The group affirms that everything that happened to Jesus was according to God's sovereign plan, and they pray that they will remain as faithful in their own trials.

Acts 4 continues the story started in Acts 3. Peter and John have healed a man born lame and preached that Jesus has risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin orders their arrest for teaching the resurrection. The Jewish officials warn Peter and John to stop speaking in Jesus' name. Peter and John refuse, but, since they have committed no crime, the Sanhedrin releases them. Peter and John return to their friends, and the Jesus-followers pray for boldness in the face of growing persecution. The church continues to grow, sharing all their possessions so that no one is in need.

Acts 4 gives the first hints of the persecution the church will face throughout its history. Peter and John attract attention when Peter heals a well-known lame beggar, and Peter uses the publicity to tell others about Christ. The Sanhedrin cannot allow the apostles to continue teaching Jesus rose from the dead. They arrest, warn, and free Peter and John, but it's just the beginning. Soon, they will arrest and beat all the apostles (Acts 5:17–42). Then a mob will stone Stephen (Acts 7:54–60). And Saul will persecute Jesus-followers in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–3) and beyond (Acts 9:1–2). The Sanhedrin fails to realize—if you send Jesus-followers fleeing into the world, they will take Jesus' message with them.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.